1851, The Solent, 100-Guinea Cup.
A US schooner named America snatched victory from the British fleet. The America’s Cup, the toughest sports trophy to win, was founded in honour of that schooner.
With over 160 years behind it, the America’s Cup is also the oldest international sports trophy. It is a race between two boats, one representing the Yacht Club holding the cup, and the other the challenger. The best yachtsmen, the fastest boats, the latest technologies in sailing and sportswear race each other between buoys in an all-out effort to win the trophy.
The 33rd America’s Cup took place in Valencia, Spain, in February 2010. BMW Oracle Racing beat the Swiss defender Alinghi by 2-0.
This is the 34th America’s Cup.
This is an America’s Cup that could be called live: it aims to fan the spirit of the race right in the spectators’ sitting rooms, with live TV coverage – microphones, TV cameras and cameramen embedded on the boats, as well as a web platform monitoring and following the races minute by minute. Finally, two more keywords, technology and identity, to boost the mythical status of a competition that is already legendary.
